Today, Christopher Clark, Counsel and Young Adults, Teens and Children Program Strategist for Lambda Legal testified before the Chicago City Council’s Commission on Human Relations in support of an amendment striking a provision of the city’s Human Rights Ordinance that requires people to use public facilities in Chicago that match the sex marker on their government-issued identification.
Today, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced new guidelines aimed at providing a more inclusive and welcoming environment for transgender students, employees and adults, including specific language establishing that transgender people have equal access to the facilities that correspond to their gender identity.
Last year, my school’s GSA decided to participate in GLSEN’s Day of Silence because we believed that it sent a very important message about the oppression that the LGBTQ+ community faces every day. We wanted to publicize the event in our school with posters and PA system announcements because we believed that anyone in our school not involved with the club should have a right to participate as well—but our administration wouldn’t allow it.
Our legal team has been working closely with lawmakers and local advocates to craft a bill that seeks to not only facilitate the process of amending a birth certificate for transgender and intersex Illinoisans, but that is more reflective of the diversity of experiences within the community.
It is an embarrassment that a bill targeting transgender students was introduced in a state like Illinois, a state that has been at the forefront of equality for LGBT people.
We are outraged at the murder of Laquan McDonald and the time it has taken for Chicago officials to release the video and file charges. We extend our deepest sympathy to Laquan McDonald’s family, and to every family affected by unnecessary and unjustified police violence. We hope that justice is done.